Gordon Shedden battles electrical issues to first race podium

Team Dynamics’ Gordon Shedden enjoyed a very solid start to his title defence in the opening round at Brands Hatch, coming home second despite an electrical issue with his dashboard in the closing stages.

Shedden slotted in third behind Tom Ingram and polesitter Jeff Smith on the opening lap, before the safety car was deployed due to a startline crash between the Scot’s team-mate Matt Neal and West Surrey Racing’s Colin Turkington.

Shedden was able to pass Eurotech Racing’s Smith at Graham Hill Bend shortly after the restart, and was able to hold off the fast approaching Ciceley Racing Mercedes A-Class of Adam Morgan at the end.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes, Shedden said: “I was kind of in no-man’s land after the first few laps. Jeff [Smith] was struggling with his softs and I managed to nip past him, but by that stage [Tom] Ingram was 100 metres up the road, and so it remained until the end.

“We had a few dramas with the car – a few electrical problems in the last four or five laps which meant the dashboard was flashing all over the place.

“By the time I figured that out I realised Morgan was getting closer. It was a little bit close for comfort at the end.”

Shedden’s attitude to starting with second placed ballast in the next race was straighforward. “Fingers crossed, and we’ll see how we go,” he said.